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Mendoza-Cerezo L, Rodríguez-Rego JM, Macías-García A, Callejas-Marín A, Sánchez-Guardado L, Marcos-Romero AC. Three-Dimensional Bioprinting of GelMA Hydrogels with Culture Medium: Balancing Printability, Rheology and Cell Viability for Tissue Regeneration. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1437. [PMID: 38794630 PMCID: PMC11124935 DOI: 10.3390/polym16101437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional extrusion bioprinting technology aims to become a fundamental tool for tissue regeneration using cell-loaded hydrogels. These biomaterials must have highly specific mechanical and biological properties that allow them to generate biosimilar structures by successive layering of material while maintaining cell viability. The rheological properties of hydrogels used as bioinks are critical to their printability. Correct printability of hydrogels allows the replication of biomimetic structures, which are of great use in medicine, tissue engineering and other fields of study that require the three-dimensional replication of different tissues. When bioprinting cell-loaded hydrogels, a small amount of culture medium can be added to ensure adequate survival, which can modify the rheological properties of the hydrogels. GelMA is a hydrogel used in bioprinting, with very interesting properties and rheological parameters that have been studied and defined for its basic formulation. However, the changes that occur in its rheological parameters and therefore in its printability, when it is mixed with the culture medium necessary to house the cells inside, are unknown. Therefore, in this work, a comparative study of GelMA 100% and GelMA in the proportions 3:1 (GelMA 75%) and 1:1 (GelMA 50%) with culture medium was carried out to determine the printability of the gel (using a device of our own invention), its main rheological parameters and its toxicity after the addition of the medium and to observe whether significant differences in cell viability occur. This raises the possibility of its use in regenerative medicine using a 3D extrusion bioprinter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mendoza-Cerezo
- Department of Graphic Expression, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (L.M.-C.); (A.C.M.-R.)
| | - Jesús M. Rodríguez-Rego
- Department of Graphic Expression, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (L.M.-C.); (A.C.M.-R.)
| | - Antonio Macías-García
- Department of Mechanical, Energy and Materials Engineering, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain;
| | - Antuca Callejas-Marín
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (A.C.-M.); (L.S.-G.)
| | - Luís Sánchez-Guardado
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (A.C.-M.); (L.S.-G.)
| | - Alfonso C. Marcos-Romero
- Department of Graphic Expression, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (L.M.-C.); (A.C.M.-R.)
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Carpentier N, Ye S, Delemarre MD, Van der Meeren L, Skirtach AG, van der Laan LJW, Schneeberger K, Spee B, Dubruel P, Van Vlierberghe S. Gelatin-Based Hybrid Hydrogels as Matrices for Organoid Culture. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:590-604. [PMID: 38174962 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The application of liver organoids is very promising in the field of liver tissue engineering; however, it is still facing some limitations. One of the current major limitations is the matrix in which they are cultured. The mainly undefined and murine-originated tumor matrices derived from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) sarcoma, such as Matrigel, are still the standard culturing matrices for expansion and differentiation of organoids toward hepatocyte-like cells, which will obstruct its future clinical application potential. In this study, we exploited the use of newly developed highly defined hydrogels as potential matrices for the culture of liver organoids and compared them to Matrigel and two hydrogels that were already researched in the field of organoid research [i.e., polyisocyanopeptides, enriched with laminin-entactin complex (PIC-LEC) and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)]. The newly developed hydrogels are materials that have a physicochemical resemblance with native liver tissue. Norbornene-modified dextran cross-linked with thiolated gelatin (DexNB-GelSH) has a swelling ratio and macro- and microscale properties that highly mimic liver tissue. Norbornene-modified chondroitin sulfate cross-linked with thiolated gelatin (CSNB-GelSH) contains chondroitin sulfate, which is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) that is present in the liver ECM. Furthermore, CSNB-GelSH hydrogels with different mechanical properties were evaluated. Bipotent intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids (ICOs) were applied in this work and encapsulated in these materials. This research revealed that the newly developed materials outperformed Matrigel, PIC-LEC, and GelMA in the differentiation of ICOs toward hepatocyte-like cells. Furthermore, some trends indicate that an interplay of both the chemical composition and the mechanical properties has an influence on the relative expression of certain hepatocyte markers. Both DexNB-GelSH and CSNB-GelSH showed promising results for the expansion and differentiation of intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids. The stiffest CSNB-GelSH hydrogel even significantly outperformed Matrigel based on ALB, BSEP, and CYP3A4 gene expression, being three important hepatocyte markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Carpentier
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Shicheng Ye
- Department Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten D Delemarre
- Department Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Louis Van der Meeren
- Nano-Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - André G Skirtach
- Nano-Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Luc J W van der Laan
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Schneeberger
- Department Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Spee
- Department Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Dubruel
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
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Carpentier N, Parmentier L, Van der Meeren L, Skirtach AG, Dubruel P, Van Vlierberghe S. Optimization of hybrid gelatin-polysaccharide bioinks exploiting thiol-norbornene chemistry using a reducing additive. Biomed Mater 2024; 19:025025. [PMID: 38266277 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ad2211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Thiol-norbornene chemistry offers great potential in the field of hydrogel development, given its step growth crosslinking mechanism. However, limitations exist with regard to deposition-based bioprinting of thiol-containing hydrogels, associated with premature crosslinking of thiolated (bio)polymers resulting from disulfide formation in the presence of oxygen. More specifically, disulfide formation can result in an increase in viscosity thereby impeding the printing process. In the present work, hydrogels constituting norbornene-modified dextran (DexNB) combined with thiolated gelatin (GelSH) are selected as case study to explore the potential of incorporating the reducing agent tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), to prevent the formation of disulfides. We observed that, in addition to preventing disulfide formation, TCEP also contributed to premature, spontaneous thiol-norbornene crosslinking without the use of UV light as evidenced via1H-NMR spectroscopy. Herein, an optimal concentration of 25 mol% TCEP with respect to the amount of thiols was found, thereby limiting auto-gelation by both minimizing disulfide formation and spontaneous thiol-norbornene reaction. This concentration results in a constant viscosity during at least 24 h, a more homogeneous network being formed as evidenced using atomic force microscopy while retaining bioink biocompatibility as evidenced by a cell viability of human foreskin fibroblasts exceeding 70% according to ISO 10993-6:2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Carpentier
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurens Parmentier
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Louis Van der Meeren
- Nano-Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - André G Skirtach
- Nano-Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Dubruel
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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